The community fund gives money to local people or organisations who want to make Hanwell feel safer for all. 'Feeling safer' was the top priority chosen by residents in 2024–2025.
- support ideas from local people
- improve access to and visibility in shared community spaces
- bring the community together
- reduce isolation, discrimination or fear experienced by marginalised groups in Hanwell
The money allows small and big ideas to grow, helping everyone feel proud of their town.
What projects get funding?
The Town Team looked for ideas that would help make Hanwell:
- feel safer – reducing anti-social behaviour, improving access or visibility in shared community spaces, tackling violence against women and girls
- feel stronger – supporting young people through safe spaces, promoting intergenerational connections, addressing isolation, discrimination or fear within marginalised groups, building local networks
They also looked for ideas that:
- reclaim local spaces
- invest in community solutions
- strengthen what already works
- help people feel they belong
- have opportunities and build trust in Hanwell
Application process
The fund was open for applications from 18 October 2025 to 6 January 2026. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Hanwell could apply for: Small Sparks grants of up to £1,000 and Community Projects grants of up to £5,000
Up to
£1,000
for small grants
Up to
£5,000
for large grants
The steps to awarding the fund were:
The Town Team put out a call for ideas to respond to the priority identified by local people
Projects submitted a short, simple application.
Town Team members reviewed applications and marked ideas based on criteria. Town Team members with a conflict of interest did not mark applications or take part in decision making to ensure the process was fair.
Town Team members met to compare scores and recommend the projects that should be supported.
Recommendations were given to an Ealing Council officer, who ensured the process was fair and agreed the decision.
Successful projects were informed and provided with next steps including due diligence and signing a grant agreement.
Those who were not awarded funding on this occasion were provided with tips on what makes a good application and other sources of funding. The Hanwell Town Team are also planning to celebrate all of the great initiatives in the area in the spring and will be encouraging all applicants to come along.
Who's been awarded funding?
Small grants – up to £1,000
Care to write?
Care to Write? is a resident‑led project offering a creative, supportive space for carers of people with dementia and other disabilities. Through guided writing sessions, participants can reconnect with their imagination, share experiences and build new connections with others in similar situations.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support weekly writing sessions for local carers.
Tie‑dye drama: safe hanwell rehearsals
Tie‑Dye Drama uses creative games, role play and storytelling to help residents build confidence and emotional safety. Their Safe Hanwell Rehearsals project will offer drama workshops where people can practise responding to real‑life challenges, such as feeling unsafe or experiencing anti‑social behaviour, helping to reduce fear through confidence‑building activities.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will enable up to 3 workshops in 2026.
The parent space – Hanwell / Ealing
The Parent Space is a community‑led peer support group for parents and carers of neurodiverse children. The group offers a welcoming, non‑judgemental space to share experiences, access practical advice and find wellbeing support when navigating the challenges of parenting.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support regular meet‑ups and community activities, offering emotional support, practical guidance and much‑needed respite.
Kitchen connect – cooking, confidence, community
Cook Stars Ealing runs cooking classes for children and young people to build practical skills and confidence. Their project, Kitchen Connect, will offer cooking sessions for teens and pre‑teens, providing a safe and supportive space to learn new skills, share meals and reflect on positive choices and wellbeing.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support a 4‑week programme including hands‑on cooking, shared meals and group discussions.
Earth day 2026 and pumpkin planting
This project brings families and neighbours in Hanwell together through creative outdoor activities. Centred around Earth Day 2026 and followed by a community pumpkin‑planting initiative, the project encourages people of all ages to connect, celebrate nature and enjoy shared public spaces.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support a series of outdoor activities and pumpkin planting, ending with a family‑friendly Halloween celebration.
Our colourful mesh
Our colourful mesh is a community art initiative led by a parent support group focused on helping children explore diversity and inclusion. Working with families from Mayfield Primary School, the project will co‑create an art installation on a school‑side fence, celebrating the rich cultural diversity of Hanwell.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support community co‑design sessions and purchase the materials needed for the installation.
Bird-friendly walks: feeling safe in Hanwell
This is a resident-led project that will run monthly, guided bird watching walks in Hanwell’s green spaces, followed by coffee mornings where people can talk and make friends. They will also share local information to help newer residents and full-time parents feel safer and more confident using shared green spaces.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support buying bird watching telescopes/binoculars, entrance tickets for group visits to Hanwell Zoo, provide coffee/refreshments after walks in Hanwell cafés and produce marketing and printing of posters, flyers and translated materials.
Make Hanwell green again!
Hanwell Guerrilla Gardeners is a community group, formed via Facebook, tackling unloved green spaces in Hanwell. The group improves the green spaces by replanting and maintaining plants. The project will transform open green spaces across Hanwell and parts of West Ealing, plus recruit others to guerrilla gardening.
Funding awarded:
£1,000 will support buying gardening tools, custom hi-vis Jackets and signs, plus core mature plants to help fill each site with more planting.
Large grants – up to £5,000
The creative bridge
Accessible Arts is a community organisation that supports creativity, confidence and self‑expression for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Working with local schools in Hanwell, their project The Creative Bridge will offer a series of inclusive multi‑artform workshops designed to bring different groups together through creative collaboration.
Funding Awarded:
£5,000 will support a programme of accessible workshops led by experienced arts professionals.
Hanwell roots & routes conference
The Proper Project is a charity that supports disadvantaged and marginalised children and young people aged 5–25 across Ealing, offering safe and enriching opportunities outside of school. Their project, Hanwell Roots & Routes, is a youth‑led conference exploring safety, opportunity and community. It will bring together over 30 professionals and people with lived experience who live, work or grew up in Hanwell, sharing honest accounts of their journeys — including challenges and difficult choices. The event aims to spark connection and create pathways for ongoing conversations, mentoring and guidance beyond the day itself.
Funding Awarded:
£5,000 will support the planning and delivery of the conference.
Hanwell Hootie music festival 2026
The Hanwell Hootie is a free, volunteer-led music festival that celebrates Hanwell's musical heritage and brings residents together for a safe, inclusive day of live performances. Returning to Brent Meadow and local venues in 2026, the event provides a family-friendly space with trained volunteers, clear safety measures and opportunities for young people to perform and get involved. It continues to strengthen community pride, connection and feelings of safety across Hanwell.
Funding Awarded:
£5,000 will support a staffed safe space with essential safety and accessibility measures, including security, stewarding, medical provision, fencing and signage.
Speak up for safety
Speak Up for Safety is a new project from Hanwell Community Library and Ealing Law Centre that helps residents feel safer by increasing awareness of hate crime and offering a trusted space to report concerns. The project trains volunteers, raises local awareness and provides confidential in-person and online support for anyone affected by hate crime or anti-social behaviour. Its aim is to strengthen resilience, understanding and community confidence across Hanwell.
Funding Awarded:
£4,800 will support training, confidential reporting space, staffing, volunteer support and awareness materials.
Stepping stones Hanwell
Brighter Future for SEN Kids supports autistic children aged 5–11 with additional behavioural needs by offering a specialist weekend social club led by trained staff and behaviour analysts. The programme provides 1:1 support, helping children build confidence, social skills and emotional regulation in a safe, inclusive environment. By giving families access to trusted local provision, the project reduces isolation and strengthens a more supportive, inclusive Hanwell.
Funding Awarded:
£5,000 will support staffing, venue hire and materials needed to deliver the specialist programme.
Hanwell carnival
Hanwell Carnival is one of London's oldest community festivals, bringing over 25,000 residents together each year for a free, volunteer-led celebration in Elthorne Park. With live music, community performances, family activities, local food and over 30 charities involved, the event strengthens pride, connection and inclusion across Hanwell. The Carnival creates a welcoming space for all ages to feel safe, represented and part of the community.
Funding Awarded:
£5,000 will support essential insurance and marketing materials needed to deliver the 2026 Carnival.
More information about these community projects, and how to get involved them will be shared here, on AroundEaling.com and Ealing Council's social media soon.
Want to know what's happening in your town?
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